tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83934036929394051662018-09-16T22:42:50.762-07:00Mason InsuranceMichigan Insurance News, Updates, and FAQs for your Home, Auto, Life, Health, and Business.Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-7721026404019053072015-06-08T13:51:00.001-07:002015-06-08T13:52:02.984-07:00Trusts, Deeds, and Insurance<h2>He who owns it, must be he who insures it</h2><br /><br />If you took the initiative to create a trust or LLC then you need to be sure that those are listed on your insurance policy. <u><strong>The individual or entity that appears on the deed/title should be the same name on your insurance policy.</strong></u>&nbsp; <br /><br /><a href="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clker.com%2Fcliparts%2Ff%2F3%2Fe%2Ff%2F1358435390119099609garden-gnome_004-md.png&amp;container=blogger&amp;gadget=a&amp;rewriteMime=image%2F*" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Garden Gnome image" border="0" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/3/e/f/1358435390119099609garden-gnome_004-md.png" title="" /></a>Example: <br />Last week you finally decided to take the advice of your lawyer and set up a living trust.&nbsp;Among the many assets you put in the trust for safe keeping,&nbsp;you decided to put your house in the trust.&nbsp;The trust&nbsp;is now the deed holder on your home.<br /><br />This morning Sue&nbsp;Yu trips on the lawn gnome in front of your house&nbsp;and sustains a life altering elbow injury, losing the use of her left arm.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sue seeks counsel&nbsp;to gain compensation for the pain and suffering she has endured after losing her arm to your lawn&nbsp;gnome.&nbsp;&nbsp;One of the first things Sue's&nbsp;lawyer&nbsp;does is&nbsp;look up to see who owns the&nbsp;property&nbsp;on which the gnome was located in order&nbsp;to determine who to file suit against. The next week you get a letter in the mail advising of the law suit against your living trust.&nbsp; <br /><br />If your insurance policy does not list the living trust on the policy, then you could be leaving all of the assets of the trust at risk.&nbsp; Luckily, you are insured with Mason Insurance Agency and because you read their blog so you knew to update your policy. The claim was covered and Sue has a brand new arm. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/3/e/f/1358435390119099609garden-gnome_004-th.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>&nbsp;</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-43706040280015386632014-10-22T11:18:00.001-07:002014-10-22T11:18:37.560-07:00Wood Burning Stoves<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">'Tis the Season</span></h2><br />Wood burning stoves have become an increasingly popular, especially after the extreme weather we saw last year in Michigan. If you are&nbsp;considering installing a wood or pellet stove, or already have one, here are a few safety tips:<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TaF98vSR8O0/VEfzISKkPFI/AAAAAAAAAH4/_FNGFnudcXY/s1600/woodstoves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TaF98vSR8O0/VEfzISKkPFI/AAAAAAAAAH4/_FNGFnudcXY/s1600/woodstoves.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a>Always, always, always have a <strong>professional</strong> install your stove! </li><li>Keep sufficient clearance between the stove and any combustible materials.</li><li>Make sure your wood stove has a UL label. </li><li>Do not vent your stove through the same duct work as any other heating appliance. </li><li>Clean your chimney and stove pipe at least once per year.</li><li>Only burn&nbsp;dry,&nbsp;seasoned wood. </li><li>Do not start your fire with gas, oil, or any other flammable fluids. </li><li>Clean your stove regularly and&nbsp;dispose&nbsp;of ash outside,&nbsp;away from the house. </li><li>And of course, contact your <strong>local independent&nbsp;insurance agent</strong> to inform him/her of your new stove!</li></ul><br /><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">information gathered from insurance information institute</span></em> <br /><br /><br />Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-3395878867015322122014-10-14T13:28:00.000-07:002014-10-14T13:28:08.811-07:00Sump Pump Failure<h3><span style="font-size: large;">Tips to keep your basement from flooding</span></h3><br />With Michigan's sporadic weather, it may seem like an uphill battle to protect and maintain your home from mother nature. If you live in Michigan, you have probably walked downstairs after a stormy night to find that your basement flooded.... again! <br /><br />A typical homeowners insurance policy has a limit of $5,000 for <em>backup or sewers and drains</em> (less your deductible, of course). This includes sump pump failure/backup so it is important to have your water backup system in tip-top shape, especially if you have a finished basement. <br /><br /><h4>If your sump pump isn't doing the job, you might want to install one of the following:</h4><br /><ul><li>backflow preventer or backwater valve</li><li></li><li>water powered sump pump</li><li></li><li>backup system with a generator</li><li></li><li>battery powered backup sump pump</li></ul><br /><h4>Top reasons why sump pumps fail:</h4><br /><ol><li>Float switch is broken</li><li>Too much water, sump pump can't keep up</li><li>Clogged intake screen</li><li>Pump is air locked</li><li>Jammed by mud/stone</li><li>Power outage</li><li>Tripped circuit/blown fuse</li><li>Broken pump impeller or drive shaft</li><li>Clogged/frozen discharge</li></ol><br /><br /><strong></strong>Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-21173993400322812092014-08-12T11:42:00.000-07:002014-08-12T11:42:33.293-07:00Is there coverage for my dirt bike on my home insurance policy?Do you have a Polaris or Kubota UTV? How about a dirt bike or four wheeler? If you do, the next questions you should be asking yourself is 'does my policy cover this'? <br /><br /><strong>Physical Damage:</strong><br />If you want to make sure your recreational vehicle is covered for physical damage, the best answer is to just schedule it on your homeowners policy. This will ensure you get the proper value for your vehicle and provide coverage for additional perils not normally included. <br /><br /><strong>Liability:</strong><br />Most policies include recreational vehicle liability while you are on your own property, however it is usually excluded off premises. Even if you don't want to cover the vehicle for physical damage you should still purchase the <em>recreational vehicle liability endorsement</em>. Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-76957531677181349322014-05-14T06:44:00.000-07:002014-05-14T06:44:19.261-07:00What factors are used to determine my car insurance rate?There are a lot of misconceptions about what insurance companies take into consideration when calculating your car insurance premium. Among a long list of rating factors, here is a list of a few variables insurers rate for.<br /><br /><strong>Age</strong><br /><br /><strong>Garaging Location</strong><br /><br /><strong>Average Mileage</strong><br /><br /><strong>Vehicle:</strong> Age, make, model, and company experience history are some factors that affect how expensive a vehicle is to insure. It is always a good idea to contact your <a href="http://www.masoninsurance.com/forms/askAnExpert.html" target="_blank">insurance agent</a> to quote a new vehicle before purchasing.<br /><br /><strong>Claim history:</strong> Claim frequency and total amount of claims paid out in the last 3 years (even if you were not at fault)<br /><br /><strong>Violations:</strong> Slow down!<br /><br /><strong>Insurance score:</strong>&nbsp;Companies us a&nbsp;score comprised&nbsp;your credit history along with a number of other factors that vary between each company.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can contact <a href="https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/" target="_blank">Lexis Nexis</a>&nbsp;to order your consumer report. <br /><br />Be sure to read our last post <a href="http://masoninsurance.blogspot.com/2014/02/15-auto-insurance-discounts.html" target="_blank">15 Auto Insurance Discounts</a> to find out how to lower your car insurance premium. <br /><br />Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-59121952823406777552014-02-06T06:42:00.000-08:002014-03-06T04:57:14.145-08:0015 Auto Insurance Discounts<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">How can I lower my&nbsp;car insurance premiums?</span></h2><br />Make sure you are cashing in on the discounts you deserve!&nbsp; We have compiled a&nbsp;list of common discounts available on&nbsp;car insurance policies.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div><h4>Multi policy discounts: </h4>Cash in on discounts for insuring your&nbsp;home, auto,&nbsp;umbrella, life, disability, long term care, etc.&nbsp;all at the same company. The discounts you receive on your home/auto insurance could pay for an entire life or umbrella policy and still save you money!<br /><span style="color: #38761d;"></span><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Go Green:</strong></span> Get a discount for going paperless. <br /><br /><h4>Home Ownership:</h4>Even if you don't insure your home with the same company as your car, you can still get a discount for owning your home. <br /><br /><h4>Pay in full:</h4>There is a significant discount for paying your policy in full if you can afford to do so.<br /><br /><h4>Storage coverage:&nbsp;</h4>Don't drive one of your vehicles in the winter? Put your vehicle in storage coverage while it is laid up for the winter. <br /><br /><h4>Vehicle safety devices: </h4>Air bags, anti lock breaks, anti theft devices, auto recovery systems (i.e. OnStar),&nbsp;and even&nbsp;daytime running lights can all be provide discounts on your auto policy. <br /><br /><h4>Student away at school:</h4>Available for people who have a child on their policy who is at college without a vehicle. <br /><br /><h4>Good student discount:</h4>Good grades= cheaper auto insurance.<br /><br /><h4>Teen driver monitoring device:</h4>Your kids might not like this one, but there is a discount available if you install a teen driver monitoring device in your child's vehicle. The savings on your auto could more than pay for installing the device.<br /><br /><h4>Loss free discount:</h4>Your loss history stays with you for 3 years.&nbsp; Consult your agent before turning in claims, sometimes it's not worth while to turn in that $100 claim if you could lose your claim free discount for 3 years.<br /><br /><h4>Coordinating health insurance:</h4>Ask your health carrier if they pay for auto related accidents. If they do, you can get a discount on your auto insurance. <br /><br /><h4>Group memberships:</h4>Being a member of a credit union, professional association, alumni association, gym, or local volunteer group can get you another discount.<br /><br /><h4>Education:</h4>Some companies give a discount if you have a high school diploma, some college education, bachelors degree, and post graduate degrees. <br /><br /><h4>Driver's safety course:</h4>Do you have to take a driver's safety course for work? Or maybe you took a class to get out of a traffic ticket? Send your agent the completion certificate to get a discount on your auto insurance.<br /><br /><h4>Low mileage:</h4>If you move, switch jobs, or retire make sure to let your insurance agent know. You can get a discount if you now commute 5 miles to work instead of 30.<br /><br /><br /><br /><h4>&nbsp;</h4><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h3>&nbsp;</h3><br /><h4>&nbsp;</h4><br />Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0Mason, MI 48854, USA42.5792027 -84.44358449999998642.5324352 -84.524265499999984 42.625970200000005 -84.362903499999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-60829519860580857442013-12-18T06:58:00.000-08:002014-03-06T05:04:58.119-08:00Loan/Lease GAP coverage<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What is GAP coverage?</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div>Buying a new car this holiday season? If you are, this may be a good time to review the coverage limits on your auto policy. One coverage that you should look into if you are purchasing a brand new vehicle is GAP coverage.&nbsp; <br /><br />You've probably heard that your car depreciates in value as soon as you drive it off the lot. Well, what if a week after you drive your brand new car off the lot you get into a wreck and total your car? You could be left holding the bill for the difference in the depreciated value of the car and the money you still owe on your auto loan. That is where GAP coverage will fill the <em>gap</em> between the depreciated value of the vehicle and the amount you still owe on the loan. <br /><br />Sometimes GAP coverage is included in your loan or lease agreement.&nbsp;It is a&nbsp;fairly inexpensive additional coverage that could wind up saving you a couple thousand dollars, so it is worth checking into!<br /><br />Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0Mason, MI 48854, USA42.5792027 -84.44358449999998642.5324352 -84.524265499999984 42.625970200000005 -84.362903499999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-28699226153429771522013-12-11T05:14:00.001-08:002014-03-06T05:05:08.764-08:00Rental Car Coverage<h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">Should I buy rental car insurance?</span></h2><br />Does my auto insurance provide coverage for a rental car? We get this question a lot at Mason Insurance Agency.&nbsp;Unfortunately, this question&nbsp;is not&nbsp;followed by a simple yes or no answer. <br /><br />Typically, a personal auto policy will extend&nbsp;coverage equal to what you have on your vehicle.&nbsp;For instance, if you have collision coverage on one of your vehicles then collision coverage is extended to the rental car. However, there are some significant gaps in coverage that you should take into consideration: <br /><ul><li>&nbsp;<strong>Loss of use</strong>: should you damage your rental car, you could be left responsible for the income lost while the rental car was in the shop and could not be rented out. </li><li><strong>Diminutive value</strong>: you could also be responsible for the difference in value of the vehicle pre-accident, and the diminished value after you damaged it.&nbsp;</li></ul>Some insurance carriers offer endorsements to cover these gaps in coverage. The best answer is to speak with your insurance agent before making a decision not to&nbsp;purchase insurance from the rental car agency. <br />Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0Mason, MI 48854, USA42.5792027 -84.44358449999998642.5324352 -84.524265499999984 42.625970200000005 -84.362903499999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-77192405317095178082013-11-20T05:59:00.000-08:002014-03-06T05:05:16.619-08:00Personal Umbrella <h2><span style="font-size: x-large;">What does a personal umbrella policy cover?</span></h2><br />&nbsp;If you are ever faced with a lawsuit, even if groundless, false, or fraudulent, chances are you are going to wish you had an umbrella policy to foot your defence costs.&nbsp; Personal umbrella policies provide excess liability coverage for bodily injury, personal injury,&nbsp;and property damage lawsuits beyond the limits of your individual insurance policies.&nbsp; <br /><br />Umbrella policies provide an emense amount of coverage, starting at $1 million of protection.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even with this much protection umbrella policies are typically inexpensive, starting&nbsp;at about $130 per year depending on your underlying policies. On top of that, some carriers offer discounts on your home and auto policies to lower the cost even further. <br /><br />Feel free to email us with questions or visit our website to inquire about a quote. Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-28651779003123139912013-11-07T05:28:00.000-08:002013-12-11T08:35:24.904-08:00MCCA - Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>What is the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA)?</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></strong><br />Have you ever looked at your auto insurance policy and&nbsp;notice a fee at the bottom for the MCCA? If you have, there are probably a couple of questions that popped into your head. The first question you most likely asked yourself is 'What the heck is the MCCA?' followed very quickly by '...and why is it costing me <strong>$186.00 per vehicle</strong>?'.&nbsp; <br /><br />The MCCA is a private non profit association created by the Michigan State Legislature&nbsp;that provides unlimited lifetime medical benefits for auto related accidents. Private insurance companies are reimbursed for personal injury protection (PIP) claims in excess of $530,000. <a href="http://www.michigancatastrophic.com/" target="_blank">Visit the MCCA's website</a> for more information. <br /><br />Currently, Michigan is the only state to offer <em>unlimited lifetime </em>medical benefits for PIP claims, with New York coming in second with a benefit cap of $50,000. <a href="http://michiganinsurancecoalition.com/2013/03/22/the-case-for-reforming-no-fault-insurance/" target="_blank">MIC</a>&nbsp; Government officials are working hard in Lansing to reform Michigan no fault insurance. You can read more about no fault reform at the <span id="goog_527947686"></span><a href="http://michiganinsurancecoalition.com/2013/03/22/the-case-for-reforming-no-fault-insurance/" target="_blank">Michigan Insurance Coalition's&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;website. <br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></strong><br />Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0Lansing, MI, USA42.732535 -84.5555347000000142.545849499999996 -84.8782582 42.9192205 -84.232811200000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8393403692939405166.post-18493726251929394592013-11-05T04:58:00.001-08:002013-12-11T08:38:01.657-08:00Auto Collision Coverage<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">What is the difference between limited, standard, and broad collision?</span></strong><br /><br />Most people know enough about insurance to know the difference between full coverage and PLPD, but did you know there&nbsp;actually three different forms of collision offered? It is important consider the advantages of each type when placing coverage on a vehicle. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Limited Collision:</strong> </span><span style="font-size: small;">If you purchase limited collision, your insurance will only pay for collision damages&nbsp;when the driver of the insured vehicle is not at fault. If the driver of the insured vehicle is more than 50% of the cause of the accident, there is no collision coverarge. </span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Standard/Basic Collision:</span></strong> If you purchase basic or standard collision, your insurance will pay for collision damages regardless of who is at fault, less your deductible. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Borad Collision: </strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">If you purchase broad form collision, your insurance wil pay for collision damages regardless of who is at fault. If the driver of the insured vehicle is found not at fault, the <u>deductible is waived</u>. </span><br /><br /><br /><br />Mason InsuranceAgencyhttps://plus.google.com/117390724854335653173noreply@blogger.com0Mason, MI 48854, USA42.5792027 -84.44358449999998642.5324352 -84.524265499999984 42.625970200000005 -84.362903499999987